Overview
- The preview party, which took place Wednesday night at Burlington House, attracted a wide cross‑section of London’s creative community including artists, aristocrats, designers and musicians.
- Co‑chairs for the evening included Anoushka Shankar, Archie Madekwe, Eva Langret, Grayson Perry and British Fashion Council chief executive Laura Weir, who framed the event as part of a plan to raise fashion’s role in the creative economy.
- Sasha Keable closed the night with a live set and several guests were singled out for fashion, with Lily Allen arriving in a custom 16Arlington gown.
- Reporters noted on‑the‑night buying and commissioning activity at the preview, underlining the Summer Exhibition’s function as a direct marketplace that channels patronage to living artists.
- The exhibition curated by Ryan Gander remains open and displays works by established names such as Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin and Antony Gormley alongside pieces from open submissions and RA students.